A330-300 centre tank?

[Yon Garde]

I appologise in advance for what seems, even to me to be a silly question but recently I've been reading about the new MTOW increase on the A330-300 to 242t and according to the airbus website "The A330-300’s optional fuel capacity increase will be achieved by activating the centre wing tank for the first time on this model"

Airbus offers new 242 tonne A330 takeoff-weight capability to extend market coverage | Airbus Press release

Is it true that the A333 has always had a centre tank installed, albeit never actually used, or was this just a byproduct of franco-english translation?

I would've thought the weight/ delta burn penalties for an empty tank sitting in the structure would have been a factor, but then again, there are various unused A340 design components, hard points etc lurking within the A330 airframe as a result of assembly line commonality, so who knows!

Thanks in advance

[Swedish Steve]

Not only is the unsealed empty box of a centre tank there, there is also the empty box where the A340 centre leg goes, fitted on all A330.

[TURIN]

Is it true that the A333 has always had a centre tank installed, albeit never actually used, or was this just a byproduct of franco-english translation?

As it's part of the primary structure of the aircraft it would be difficult not to have it installed.

[tdracer]

I suspect if you leave out all the pumps, plumbing, and such, the difference in weight between a 'dry' center wing box design and a "wet" capable center wing box is pretty minor.

[DaveReidUK]

It's simply a matter of installing in the A330-300 the same plumbing, pumps and inerting system that's already certificated on the -200.

[spannersatcx]

yeah simple!

[Mr @ Spotty M]

It was the same with Boeing a number of years back with the B767-200ER.
Some had a wet centre tank and in others it was dry, no pumps or plumbing.

[bvcu]

inerting system....? how long has that been on a 330?

[Mr @ Spotty M]

It has been on all the Airbus fleets for a number of years, this due to FAA requirements.

[TURIN]

It has been on all the Airbus fleets for a number of years, this due to FAA requirements.

On 'new build' a/c since 2010? Retrofitted on all a/c built since 1991.

More here...

PPRUNE NGS

And here..

FAA Press Release

[bvcu]

must go and check the manuals , current on 330-200, 343,345 and havent seen an 'inerting system, got it on the newer 777's but has not been retrofited on the old ones. thought the pack bay ventilation system with its turbofan was the airbus system, which is not inerting .

[safelife]

You probably won't know it's there until you see that "FUEL INERT" status for the first time (and then have to clue what it means (run the CMS test, it will go away)).

[Mr @ Spotty M]

TURIN

Don't you mean can be retrofitted on a/c post 1991?

[tdracer]

The FAA is mandating retrofit via AD. From the above linked FAA press release:

The U.S. aircraft that will be retrofitted include approximately 2,730 aircraft belonging to the A320 family of 900 airplanes, 50 A330s, 965 Boeing 737s, 60 Boeing 747s, 475 Boeing 757s, 150 Boeing 767s and 130 Boeing 777s.

I don't recall the compliance time, although it is relatively long due to the difficulties in the installation.

[spannersatcx]

It's certainly not on the ones we handle, not even a chapter 47 for it in the AMM.

[DaveReidUK]

It's certainly not on the ones we handle

The FAA's 2,730 figure represents only about a fifth of the active worldwide fleet of the types in question.

[spannersatcx]

they are less than 2 years old though, some are newer!

Reading the rules it states 'The order affects aircraft whose air conditioning units have a possibility of heating up the center wing fuel tank.'

So no current A330-300's will have it.

If a centre wing tank is added to the -300 then it will have to have an inerting system fitted.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

tdracer

The FAA does not control the world airlines yet thank God.
My understanding is that EASA does not mandate its use and it is also my understanding it is not going to.

[bvcu]

think the reason is airbus has an alternate means of keeping temperature down in that area , still on A380 as well, although no centre tank yet, but still has MEL restrictions if system not working . Looking at 777's fitted the MEL for it being inop is a very long time period so its not seen as critical, and i bet the majority of them built before it was available will not be retrofitted.